LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS

'Longmeadow' is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The population was 15,633 at the 2000 census. Its town government consists of a Select Board with 5 members.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Education

Trivia

References

History

Longmeadow was first settled in 1644, and officially incorporated on October 17, 1783. The town was originally farmland within the limits of Springfield. It remained relatively pastoral until the street railway was built about 1910, when the population tripled over a fifteen-year period. After Interstate 91 was built in the wetlands on the west side of town, population tripled again between 1960 and 1975. Today it is the most affluent suburb in the state west of Worcester, featuring the highest per capita income of any location in that region.
Johnny Appleseed once lived here, as did recent celebrities like actress Bridget Moynahan, actress Erinn Bartlett, Aaron Lewis of the band Staind, Total Request Live host Damien Fahey, as well as New England Revolution defenseman Jay Heaps, and Glamour dating blogger Alyssa Shelasky of See Alyssa Date. Author Anita Shreve is a current town resident.

Geography

Longmeadow is located in the western part of the state, just south of the city of Springfield, and is bordered on the west by the Connecticut River, to the east by East Longmeadow and to the south by Enfield, Connecticut. It extends approximately 3 miles north to south and 2.5 miles east to west. It is approximately 20 miles north of Hartford.
More than 30% of the town is permanent open space. Conservation areas on the west side of town include more than 750 acres bordering the Connecticut River. The area supports a wide range of wildlife including deer, beaver, wild turkeys, foxes, and eagles. Springfield's Forest Park (Springfield), which at 735 acres is the largest city park in New England, forms the northern border of the town. The private Twin Hills and public Franconia golf courses, plus town athletic fields and conservation land, cover nearly 2/3 of the eastern border of the town. Two large public parks, the Longmeadow Country Club, and three conservation areas account for the bulk of the remaining formal open space. Almost 20% of the houses in town are in close proximity to a "dingle", a tree-lined steep sided sandy ravine with a wetland at the bottom that provides a privacy barrier between yards.
Longmeadow has a town common located along US Highway 5, on the west side of town. It is about 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers) long. Roughly 100 houses date back before 1900, most of which are in the historic district near the town green. Houses along the photogenic main street are set back farther than in most towns of similar residential density. The town has three recently remodeled elementary schools, two secondary schools, and one high school. The commercial center of town is an area called "The Longmeadow Shops," including restaurants and clothing stores.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.6 km² (9.5 mi²). 23.4 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (5.05%) is water.

Demographics

The census of 2000 shows there were 15,633 people, 5,734 households, and 4,432 families residing in the town. The population density was 669.2/km² (1,732.5/mi²). There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of 251.7/km² (651.5/mi²).
There were 5,734 households out of which 37% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69% were married couples living together, 6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23% were non-families. 20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.1.
In the town the population was spread out with 27% under the age of 18, 5% from 18 to 24, 22% from 25 to 44, 29% from 45 to 64, and 18% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 men age 18 and over, there were 122 women.
The median household income in the town was $75,461, and the median family income was $87,742. Males had a median income of $88,238 versus $40,890 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,949. About 1.0% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Longmeadow public school system is comprised of six schools. Blueberry Hill School, Center School, and Wolf Swamp Road School are K-5 elementary schools. Williams Middle School and Glenbrook Middle School serve grades 6-8. Longmeadow High School serves all students in the town between grades 9 and 12. Longmeadow is known for its outstanding public education. The high school newspaper talked to 172 seniors in 2007, of whom 10 have decided to enroll in Ivy League colleges, 13 more in other schools in the top quarter of the US News & World Report "Top National Universities", 46 more in the remaining Top National Universities, 33 in the USN&WR "Top Master's" schools of the north, 3/4 in the top half, 19 in the USN&WR "Top Liberal Arts Colleges", almost all in the top half, and 29 more at a variety of other schools including the US Air Force Academy, McGill, and Babson. Another 15 students will enroll in state colleges in Massachusetts.
Longmeadow is also known for excellence in athletics, particularly their rivalry against neighboring suburb, East Longmeadow, and their Thanksgiving Day football game is very popular among residents of both towns. Longmeadow High School's team name is the Lancers. Other rivals include Minnachaug Regional High School, Agawam, Springfield Central, and South Hadley. Approximately 85% of students are involved in sports at Longmeadow High School. Longmeadow is well known for their storied high school lacrosse tradition in both the boys' and girls' programs, winning Massachusetts State Championships in 1970, '74-'75, '77, '79-'81, '83-'86, '88-90, '92 and '97 (Boys). Several of their alumni have gone onto play lacrosse for top collegiate programs. In 2006 Longmeadow High School's Hockey Team was the Division III state champions and in 2007 lost to East Longmeadow in the semifinals. 2004 Girls Lacrosse Were Division I State Champions. Longmeadow High School's Football team has gone to ten straight Western Mass-Central Mass Super Bowls under Head Coach Alex Rotsko. Three out of the last four seasons, the football team has gone undefeated. The previous four teams have posted a 46-3 record. The 2005 Football team beat Leominster in the Division 1 Super Bowl 21-20 and beat Leominster again in 2006 42-0.
Longmeadow is also known for its phenomenal music program. Approximately 50% of the students at Longmeadow High School participate in the music program. The choruses have won gold medals at the MICCA competition. The jazz ensemble has won numerous gold medals as well, but no longer competes. The wind ensemble and symphony orchestra have had the honor of performing in Indianapolis, Boston (Boston Symphony Hall), and New York (Carnegie Hall). However, the music program's crowning achievement has been receiving three national Grammy Awards based on the high level of excellence maintained throughout all groups in the music program.
The physical facilities of the Longmeadow school system are considered to be a weakness by many parents and students. While the town's elementary schools were recently rebuilt, firm plans have not yet been made for improvements to the two middle schools and Longmeadow High School. According to the School Committee, "Concern about the high school building and its appropriateness as an education facility were heightened in 2001 when LHS participated in a 10-year site visit by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and was subsequently put on 'warning' status. A key factor in placing the high school on warning was the condition of the facility." See: http://www.longmeadow.k12.ma.us/dist/pdfs/SOI%20for%20Longmeadow%20Schools.pdf

Trivia

Longmeadow has been labeled one of the preppiest places to live in the country by the Official Preppy Handbook.

References